Moving apparatus for decorating

ABSTRACT

A motion apparatus for decorative purposes has a rotary motion having at least two rotors movement-coupled to one another and each having an axis of rotation. The rotors each have a rotary base element coupled to one another and rotating synchronously at identical angular speed about their axis of rotation. Each rotor has a securing arm extending at a right angle to the axis of rotation and further has a radially outer front end. The securing arms are moveable in a longitudinal direction of the securing arm perpendicular to the axis of rotation, wherein movement of the securing arms in the longitudinal direction is coupled to the rotation of the rotary base elements such that for a complete rotation of the securing arms the front ends of the securing arms describe a spiral path. Neighboring securing arms are displaced by 180° to one another so as to have a collinear position in which the front ends point toward one another and in which the securing arms have been moved in the same direction into a longitudinal end position. A body is secured to the front end of one of the securing arms and transferred in the collinear position to the front end of the other securing arm. A drive for driving the rotary motion is provided.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a motion apparatus for decorative purposes.

The object and purpose of the inventive motion apparatus is to provide amotion structure which for decorative purposes or for other purposes canbe placed into a room or can also be placed outdoors. It has a similarpurpose as, for example, a mobile.

The invention has the object to provide a motion apparatus fordecorative purposes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The technical solution is characterized by a rotary motion with at leasttwo movement-coupled rotors, each rotor provided with a rotary baseelement whereby the rotary base elements of neighboring rotors arerotationally coupled synchronously with identical angular speed as wellas provided with a longitudinally moveable securing arm arrangedsubstantially perpendicularly to the axis of rotation of thecorresponding rotary base element and rotating about the axis ofrotation, whereby the securing arms of the rotors are longitudinallymoveably coupled such to the rotational movements of the rotary baseelements that for a complete revolution of the securing arm its frontend is moved along a spiral path, whereby the securing arms ofneighboring rotors are displaced relative to one another by 180° suchthat they have a collinear position in which the front ends face oneanother and in which the two securing arms are moved in the samedirection into a respective end position. The apparatus furthercomprises a body, secured at the front end of the securing arm of one ofthe rotors and in the collinearly aligned position transferred to thesecuring arm of the other rotor, and further comprises also a drive unitfor the rotary motion.

Accordingly, a motion apparatus for decorative purposes is providedwhich exhibits a harmonic movement of the rotary motion as well as ofthe body. The basic idea is that the body is transferred alternatinglyfrom one rotor to the other rotor. After the transfer of the body thereceived body, due to the longitudinal movement of the securing arm,performs a spiral movement whereby after one complete revolution thesecuring arm is extended such that it can transfer the body to theretracted securing arm of the other rotor. The body thus follows thepath of a figure eight. This produces a harmonic movement with constanttransfer of the body. The transfer of the body from one securing arm tothe other can be achieved with a corresponding coupling device which canbe, for example, controlled by the rotational movement of the rotor. Thetransfer or coupling device can be embodied by solenoids at the two armswhich are switched accordingly, or by grippers, for example, tongscontrolled by control curves, or a receiving nipple using controlcurves. Other devices are, of course, also possible. In the basic designof the motion apparatus two rotors are provided. However, it is alsopossible, to provide three rotors in order to reduce imbalance so thattwo bodies must then be provided whereby, of course, the movements ofthe three rotors must be matched with respect to the two bodies andwhereby two rotors respectively form a rotor pair.

In one further embodiment it is suggested that the rotary base elementsrotate in opposite directions. Accordingly, the securing arms alsorotate in opposite directions.

Preferably, the rotary base elements are meshing gearwheels. The gearwheels of the rotors engage one another and produce thus in a simplemanner the opposed movement of the rotary base elements. When employingan intermediate gear wheel, it is, of course, possible to have the twobase elements rotate in the same direction.

A further embodiment suggests that each rotary base element hascoordinated therewith a longitudinally moveable rod arranged along theaxis of rotation which is in cooperation with the securing arm such thata longitudinal movement of the rod results in longitudinal movement ofthe securing arm. This provides for a simple realization forreciprocating the securing arms during the rotational movement. Forexample, the rod may be a toothed rod which cooperates with a gear wheeland this gear wheel cooperates with the securing arm which is also atoothed rod.

A further embodiment suggests a crankshaft for driving the rods withcorresponding cranks for movement of the rods whereby the crankshaft issynchronized by an intermediate gear box with the rotary base elements.This is a simple embodiment in order to reciprocate vertically the rodswhereby for all rotors a common crankshaft is provided and whereby therespective rods are connected to respective cranks. Such a crankshaftprovides for a simple synchronization of the rotary base elements.

Instead of the disclosed mechanism for reciprocating the securing armsit is also possible to employ instead a lever arrangement whichtransforms the rotational movement of the base elements into a linearmovement of the securing arm.

A further embodiment suggests that the securing arm is arranged on anauxiliary rotary element that is coaxial to the rotary base element.This provides a simple technical solution in order to support and guidethe securing arms of the respective rotors in a simple manner.

A further embodiment suggests that the auxiliary rotary element can bedecoupled from the rotary base element such that the auxiliary rotaryelement together with its securing arm can advance for a short period oftime relative to the rotary base element. This provides for anadditional movement variation by providing decoupling of the movement.

Finally, in another embodiment it is suggested that the drive acts onone of the base rotary elements. This drive has the function to maintainthe entire motion apparatus in motion. Of course, it is also possible toactuate the drive only for a certain period of time and then leave themotion apparatus to continue to move on its own. Of course, after acertain amount of time it will stop moving so that the drive must beactuated again. In order to maintain the movement for an extended periodof time while the drive unit is turned off, it is possible to employ aflywheel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One embodiment of the inventive motion apparatus for decorative purposeswill be disclosed in the following with the aid of the drawings. It isshown in:

FIG. 1 a schematic view of the motion apparatus;

FIG. 2 a plan view of an alternative to the motion apparatus in FIG. 1whereby the movement path of the body is shown.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The motion apparatus has a housing 1 having a rotary motion 2 arrangedat its upper side. It is comprised of two rotors 2′, 2″. The two rotors2′, 2″ are identical in their basic construction.

Each rotor 2′, 2″ comprises a rotary base element in the form of a gearwheel 3 whereby the two gear wheels 3 of the two rotors 2′, 2″ mesh withone another. Above the gear wheel 3 an auxiliary rotary element in theform of a mass disk 4 is arranged. This mass disk 4 is also rotatableabout the axis of rotation A of the gear wheel 3 whereby the rotationalmovement of the gear wheel 3 and the mass disk 4 are coupled to oneanother or decoupled. A securing arm 5 is supported longitudinallyslidably on guides G on the mass disk 4 on a frame structure whereby thesecuring arm 5 is substantially intercepts the axis of rotation A. Alongthe axis of rotation A a rod 6 is provided which is embodied as atoothed rod. This rod 6 is connected to a pinion 7 supported on a pinionsupport PS on the mass disk which actuates the securing arm 5 embodiedas a toothed rod for this purpose.

Within the housing 1 a crankshaft 8 with two cranks 9 is provided. Arespective rod 6 of the two rotors 2′, 2″ is rotatably connected to thecranks 9. A flywheel 10 is shown schematically external to the housing1. Furthermore, the crankshaft 8 is connected by intermediate gear box11 to the right gear wheel 3. Finally, a drive unit 12 is arrangedexternal to the housing 1 whereby the drive is, for example, an electricmotor and is connected by a pinion D to the gear wheel 3 having a sleeveS with a pinion P connected thereto that is in driving connection withthe gear box. Finally, it is shown that to the front end of one rotor 2′a body 13 is coupled by a coupling member C″.

The motion apparatus functions as follows:

The drive unit 12 rotates the two gear wheels 3 in opposite directions.Since the right gear wheel 3 is an active connection with theintermediate gear box 11, the crankshaft 8 is rotated at the same time .This rotation of the crankshaft 8 moves the two rods 6 alternatinglyupwardly and downwardly in the sleeve S. This movement of the rods 6displaces the securing arms 5 by the pinion 7, as can be seen especiallyin the positions of the two securing arms 5 shown in the drawings incomparison to the position of the two rods 6.

FIG. 2 shows that the body 13 is coupled to the front end of thesecuring arm 5 of the left rotor 2′. The securing arm 5 performs arotary motion in the direction of the arrow so that finally the body 13reaches the rectangular position shown in dashed lines. In thisposition, the securing arm 5 of the right rotor 2″ has moved in theclockwise direction by the same angular distance so that the twosecuring arms 5 are exactly positioned opposite one another. Thesecuring arm 5 of the right rotor 2″ is in its retracted position. Inthis position, the securing arm 5 of the right rotor 2″ can couple thebody 13 thereto whereby the body 13 at the same time is disengaged fromthe securing arm 5 of the left rotor 2′.

Upon further rotation of the right securing arm 5, the corresponding rod6 is moved upwardly and moves the securing arm 5 radially forwardly sothat the body 13 follows a spiral path. Upon a complete rotation thebody 13 is then in the left rectangular position shown in dashed linesin FIG. 2. In this position the securing arm 5 of the left rotor 2′ isretracted and the body 13 can be coupled thereto and the right securingarm 5 can release the body 13. Since now the left securing arm 5 hasreceived the body 13, it again follows a spiral path according to theleft loop shown in FIG. 2 until the body 13 and thus the entire systemhave reached their initial position. Thus, a continuous change of thebody 13 between the rotor 2′ and the other rotor 2″ and vice versa takesplace.

The intermediate gear box 11 ensures that the rotary motion 2 rotateswith twice the speed of the crankshaft 8 and that the two securing arms5 at the point of transfer of the body 13 are positioned opposite oneanother when the crankshaft 8 is positioned at its lower or upper deadcenter. Furthermore, it is provided that the mass disks 4 with theirsecuring arms 5 can be briefly decoupled from the gear wheels 3 so thata relative advancing movement between the gear wheel 3 and the mass disk4 with its securing arm 5 is possible.

In the shown embodiment two rotors 2′, 2″ are provided. Of course, it isalso possible to provide three rotors with two bodies, for example, inorder to reduce imbalance of the system.

The present invention is, of course, in no way restricted to thespecific disclosure of the specification and drawings, but alsoencompasses any modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A motion apparatus for decorative purposes, saidapparatus comprising: a rotary motion (2) having at least two rotors(2′, 2″) movement-coupled to one another and each having an axis ofrotation (A); each one of said rotors (2′, 2″) having a rotary baseelement (3); said rotary base elements (3) coupled to one another androtating synchronously at identical angular speed about said axis ofrotation; each one of said rotors (2′, 2″) having a securing arm (5)extending at a right angle to said axis of rotation (5) and having aradially outer front end; said securing arms (5) moveable on guidesmounted on said rotors in a longitudinal direction of said securing arm(5) perpendicular to said axis of rotation (5), wherein movement of saidsecuring arms (5) in said longitudinal direction is coupled to therotation of said rotary base elements (3) such that for a completerotation of said securing arms (5) said front ends of said securing arms(5) describe a spiral path; wherein said securing arms (5) are displacedby 180° to one another so as to have a collinear position in which saidfront ends point toward one another and in which said securing arms (5)have been moved in the same direction into a longitudinal end position;a body (13) secured to said front end of one of said securing arms (5)and transferred in said collinear position to said front end of theother one of said securing arms (5); a drive (12) for driving saidrotary motion (2).
 2. A motion apparatus according to claim 1, whereinsaid rotary base elements (3) rotate in opposite directions.
 3. A motionapparatus according to claim 1, wherein said rotary base elements (3)are meshing gear wheels.
 4. A motion apparatus according to claim 1,wherein each one of said rotors (2′, 2″) has a rod (6) extendingcoaxially to said axis of rotation (A) and is moveable along said axisof rotation (A), said rod (6) cooperating with said securing arm (5)such that upon movement of said rod (6) along said axis of rotation (A)said securing arm (5) is moved in said longitudinal direction.
 5. Amotion apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising: a crankshaft(8) having cranks (9); a gear box (1) connected to said crankshaft (8);wherein said rods (6) are connected to said cranks (9); wherein rotationof said crankshaft (8) moves said rods (6) along said axis of rotation(A); and wherein said crankshaft (8) is synchronized with said rotarybase elements (3) by said gear box (11).
 6. A motion apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein each one of said rotors (2′, 2″) has an auxiliaryrotary element (4) arranged coaxially to said rotary base element (3)and wherein said securing arm (5) is connected to said auxiliary rotaryelement (4).
 7. A motion apparatus according to claim 6, wherein saidauxiliary rotary element (4) and said rotary base element (3) aredisengageable from one another such that said auxiliary rotary element(4) and said securing arm (5) advance relative to said rotary baseelement (3) when said auxiliary rotary element (4) and said rotary baseelement (3) are disengaged.
 8. A motion apparatus according to claim 1,wherein said drive (12) drives one of said rotary base elements (3).